About Us

The Four-Point Approach

Main Street Chestertown follows the national model for community revitalization created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It calls for “Transformation Strategies” organized around four key areas, each supported by a working group: Organization, Economic Vitality, Design, and Promotion.

Organization involves creating a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort. That means recruiting and supporting leaders for Main Street’s board and committees, cultivating partnerships, engaging the larger community, and

providing resources – primarily funding and volunteers – for the work of the Main Street program.

Economic Vitality focuses on capital, incentives, and other economic and financial tools to assist new and existing businesses, catalyze property development, and create a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and innovators. Smart growth principles and reinvestment in existing properties is key to Chestertown’s success.

Design enhances the physical and visual assets that set the commercial district apart. In addition to celebrating and protecting downtown’s historic character, Main Street programs help create a lively and attractive streetscape that fosters walkability and makes everyone feel welcome.

Promotion initiatives communicate Chestertown’s strengths and charms through marketing, special events and storytelling. They support the shop-local-first experience and showcase why the community’s historical, educational, artistic, and environmental assets combine to offer Eastern Shore life at its best.

But wait, there’s more …. Clean, Safe & Green. Since 2008, Main Street Maryland programs have also incorporated a Fifth Point: “Clean, Safe, and Green,” which focuses on “enhancing the perception of a neighborhood through the principles of Smart Growth and sustainability.” Main Street Historic Chestertown relies on — and where appropriate, partners with — the Town’s Environmental Committee for this aspect of downtown vitality. Learn more about the work of the Environmental Committee here.

Workgroups

Following the national Main Street organization’s Four-Point Approach to downtown revitalization, Chestertown’s program is structured around workgroups that collaborate to achieve strategic goals.

Organization

Lani Seikaly, chair

Paul Heckles

Megan Bramble Owings

Jeff Weber

Economic Vitality

Bryan Matthews, chair

Marjorie Adams

David Bowman

Terwana Brown

Jeff Grotsky

Nina Johnson

Mark Kamon

Bryan Matthews

Rebecca Murphy

Kristen Owen

Jamie Williams

Design

Samantha Arrow

Jodi Bortz

Carolyne Grotsky

Ellen Hurst

Joe Karlik

Kathleen King

Kate Markoski

Lauren Matera

Barton Ross

Barbara Slocum

Promotion & Events

Carolyn Brown, co-chair, promotion

Liddy Campbell Vandemark, co-chair, events

Jenn Baker

Renee Bench

Bernadette Bowman

Ben Ford

Andy Goddard

Rolando Irizarry

Mike O’Connor

Francoise Sullivan

Greg Waddell

Neyah White

Our Board of Directors

Paul Heckles, President

Bryan Matthews, V.P. and Chair, Economic Development

Renee Bench, Secretary

Jeff Weber, Treasurer

Lani Seikaly (Chair, Organization)

Liddy Campbell (Co-chair, Promotion & Events)

Carolyn Spencer Brown (co-Chair Promotion & Events)

Richard Keaveney

Barbara Jorgenson

Jim Landskroener

Kristen Owen

Contact Us

The Town of Chestertown provides technical support and meeting space for the Main Street Chestertown program on the second floor of Town Hall. Learn More about this program and how you can help move Chestertown forward. Your contributions to Main Street Historic Chestertown are completely tax-deductible and totally appreciated (contact treasurer@mainstreetchestertown.org).